map-bg

Land, Indigenous peoples, settlers, and today’s communities.

Since time immemorial, Ancestors of the people called K’ómoks today consisting of the Pentlatch, Ieeksan (eye-ick-sun), Sasitla (sa-seet-la), Xa’xe (ha-hey) and Sathloot (sath-loot) people have been the caretakers of this land, which they called the “Land of Plenty.” This Land of Plenty stretched from what is known today as Kelsey Bay in the north, down to Hornby and Denman Island in the south, and included the watershed and estuary of the Puntledge River, also acknowledging that these boundaries and place names are colonial constructs.

The K’ómoks First Nation refer to the lands between the bays of Comox and the Beaufort mountain range as the path between, it was a travel and trade route to the Alberni corridor and a connection to the indigenous communities on the western side of the island.

Land agreements included the 1884 Settlement Act stripped these lands for its caretakers. At the Museum we acknowledge that we are a colonial created institution, and I would like to thank Charlene Everson, Emily Shopland and Violet Williams for guiding the museum in early discussion on what reconciliation could mean for our organization and how we could create actionable steps; in maintaining a positive dialogue with a forward focus, sharing contemporary K’omoks narratives, and incorporating First Nation languages where they felt it appropriate. Their time and guidance helped us gain insight and learn how to best support their voice in our museum’s walls. This is an ongoing process and we have so much more to learn.

Reader View
Loading...
Read Story Up, Down, Spacebar or Scroll
Story • 2 Min read
Volunteer Organizations Community

Sisterhood

The Women of the Lodges

In Cumberland, women played a vital role in community life by establishing and participating in special branches of fraternal societies, traditionally dominated by men.

In Cumberland, the Pythian Sisters Benevolence Temple No. 9 served as the women’s branch of the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent Lodge No. 14. Similarly, the Beaufort Chapter 61 of the Order of the Eastern Star welcomed women. Typically, women needed a brother or husband in the fraternal order to join an affiliated branch.

The Pythian Sisters and the Rebekahs were active in community support, donating handmade items for fundraising events like the Masquerade Ball organized by the Cumberland Intermediate and Junior Football Club. Members of various lodges in Cumberland frequently contributed to social events or disaster relief funds, with the lodges themselves also stepping in to help.

Rebekah Lodge Pin
ribbon, membership ; pin, membership (2001.087.001)